NatureMapping - Unvegetated: Intertidal zone

Definition of "Open Water" - General Code 400: Large open water space. Excludes wetlands.

Open Water: tidal pool (421)

Descriptive Habitat Code: Open water habitat (4), salt water tidal pool (21)

Photo: Tidal pool around Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, Oregon

California gull
Larus californius
Code: LACAL
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean. It breeds on gravel beds along the Columbia River and large lakes in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It is an opportunistic scavenger feeding on fish, crustaceans, bivalves and other invertebrates, as well as carrion and scavenging items from dumps and other areas of human habitation.

Interesting fact:
This gull is often found nesting together with the Ring- billed gull. It is Utah's state bird because it saved settlers from starvation when flocks of California gulls ate the locusts ruining their crops.

Green Sea Anemone
(uh-NEM-uh-nee)
Anthopleura xanthogrammica

Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
The anenome is often found in the shallow intertidal zone. There are more than 1,000 sea anemone species found throughout the world's oceans.

Diet:
Anemones are stinging polyps that wait for fish to pass close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles.

Interesting fact:
Named after the flashy terrestrial anemone flower.

Mussels
Mytilus

Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
Mussels are found in dense mats attached by fine threads to rocks, pilings, or other hard surfaces in the intertidal zone of ocean.

Diet:
bivalves are filter feeders. They feed on plankton and other microscopic sea creatures which are free-floating in seawater.

Interesting fact:
Mussels are prized by gourmet cooks as an essential ingredient of seafood.

Sea Cucumber
Stichopus californicus

Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean.

Diet:
Sea cucumbers feed on tiny particles like algae, minute aquatic animals, and waste materials, which they gather in with tube feet.

Interesting fact:
Sea cucumbers are echinoderms - like starfish and sea urchins.

Sea star
Pisaster ochraceus

Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean.

Diet:
The star fish usually hunt for shelled animals such as oysters and clams.

Interesting fact:
Sea stars have two stomachs. One stomach is used for digestion, and the other stomach can be extended outward to engulf and digest their prey.

Western gull
Larus occidentalis
Code: LAOC
Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout parts of the western North Pacific Ocean. It breeds on gravel beds along the Columbia River and large lakes in the Columbia Basin.

Diet:
It is an opportunistic scavenger feeding on fish, crustaceans, bivalves and other invertebrates, as well as carrion and scavenging items from dumps and other areas of human habitation.

Western gull Fact Sheet »